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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog0 commentsIt always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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By marxautocenter
Hello all,
I'm currently the General Manager of a pre-owned vehicle sales and service center. The business has a great reputation in the community, and has done well for 35 years. The current owners are ready to retire and enjoy a life of less responsibilities. They have deemed me fit to take control, and are helping me out by carrying the note, with a good down payment of course. We are still working on the nuts and bolts of the deal, and it has me thinking of all the avenues I could pursue in the future. Which leads to my question, should I continue to sell cars, or just focus on service? I know I'm not giving much information, but I'm looking to hear from other owners who may have experience on both ends, on some pros and cons. I know the 2 segments are symbiotic, as sales gives us future service work, and service has the option of offering vehicles for sale when a service customers vehicle is deemed not worth repairing.
The current numbers are skewed, as service gives a discounted rate to sales in the manner of 50 dollars per hour of labor, as opposed to the 134.77, and also parts are at cost. I am a numbers guy, and would like to make a decision on what would be most profitable, and I will have a better idea as we work over the reports.
I'm just looking for opinions from knowledgeable folks. We don't have a master technician at the moment, so we struggle on diagnostics sometimes, and I would have to resolve that should I decide to remove sales from the equation.
Sales end is currently handled solely by one owner, other than myself talking to customers on the lot. We have a license now for 30 cars.
Fenced in yard behind building capable of storing 40+ cars, with a front lot that displays the 30 vehicles for sale.
Great customer base, minimal advertising in the 35 years of business. ARO is 426.20 currently, and we average around 2000 RO's annually in the last 4-5 years.
I know I'm not providing enough information, but I can update when more becomes available.
Thanks in advance!
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By Zenoo
Hi my name is Zenas and I am 26 years old from Alberta, Canada. I started my own automotive repair shop in December 2023. After running it for 1 year I made a little bit of profit. I needed some advice on how I could increase it. Its a 3 bay shop with two 2 post hoists and one 4 post hoist with alignment. I am the only mechanic in the shop as I can't afford to hire anyone at this point. I am charging about $120 per hour for the labor and very minimal mark up on parts. The shop had no customer base when I got it so it took me sometime to build returning customers. If I try to increase the prices on parts the customers run away. Seems like they are calling around the city and going to the cheapest person. My monthly over head cost is about $7000. Whatever I make in a month goes back into next month's rent. Any advices on how to manage this properly from other shop owners?
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By Joe Marconi
I want wish everyone the very best this holiday Season, and a prosperous and healthy 2025 and beyond!
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By carmcapriotto
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
End-of-year chaos is here, and Hunt’s been busy diving into webinars, questions, and updates on some big topics like the BOI report, interest rates, and the infamous Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). In this episode, Hunt breaks down what’s happening, what you need to know, and what you should (or shouldn’t) do before heading into 2024.
Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
BOI Report (Beneficial Ownership Information): This rule was meant to track down shady business practices, but now it’s tangled in legal challenges and paused—for now. Already filed? You’re good. Haven’t filed? You’ve got choices. Hunt explains the pros and cons of sitting tight or filing now. Interest Rates and the Economy: Rates are dropping, but what does that actually mean? Hunt explains why “good news is bad news” for the economy and what’s expected for borrowing costs, CDs, and savings rates in 2024. Key dates to watch for financial reports that could shake things up (spoiler alert: December 11th and 12th are big ones). ERTC: Still Alive, but Barely: The IRS is drowning in a mountain of unprocessed claims—think years of delays. What to do if you’re still waiting on your ERTC money and why you shouldn’t count your chickens (or your tax credit) just yet. Learn more about how to fill out the BOI Report here: https://youtu.be/5pP1b_IzbSY
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it. After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
Thanks to our partner, Promotive
It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
Email Hunt: [email protected]
Download a Copy of My Books Here:
Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop
The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/
Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/
Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/
The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/
Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By nptrb
There’s less than one month left in 2024. Is the bookkeeping for your automotive business up to date?
If you’re anything like us, you feel like this year flew by in the blink of an eye. It’s time to ensure that your books and reports are squared away as this year comes to an end.
In this blog post, we share important steps to start the new year on a healthy financial footing.
Reconcile bank and credit card statements.
Reconciling your automotive business’s credit card and bank statements at year-end is crucial for accurate financial reporting and tax preparation.
By reconciling, you ensure all transactions are accounted for, identify discrepancies, and prevent errors that could lead to costly penalties.
Review your yearly income statement.
Close out the year with a clear understanding of your income by reviewing your yearly income statement.
Throughout your review, confirm that all of your transactions are properly categorized. Identify if there are any transactions in the miscellaneous/uncategorized account or “Ask My Accountant”.
Compare this year’s statement to the previous year’s statement for growth patterns and revenue increases. And don’t forget to calculate the gross profit percentage of net revenue.
Review your yearly balance sheet.
Analyzing and adjusting your yearly balance sheet can help you identify trends and assess your automotive business’s current financial position.
A thorough review helps you understand your business’s liquidity, solvency, and overall financial performance so you can make informed decisions in the upcoming year.
Evaluate the following three categories on your yearly balance sheet to confirm prime accuracy.
Your assets Your liabilities Your equity When reviewing each of these categories, ensure that all transactions are accurate and correctly recorded in the appropriate accounts.
Additionally, ensure that all adjusting entries are accounted for and all account balances make sense. Reconcile any discrepancies found.
Download our free end-of-year checklist.
Now that you’re ready to tackle your year-end review, we’d love to offer a free resource to support you.
When you download our free end-of-year checklist, you’ll have peace of mind that all of your bases are covered for a healthy and bright 2025!
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